Thinking about a career in agriculture?

The most important work you can do is the growing of food. Do you want to do something important with your life? How would you like a career that grew with you? A career that would present new challenges and opportunities for your whole working life? Get started on your path at Tocal. Do the most important work there is.

Tocal courses are renowned Australia-wide for providing students with practical training, development of industry-relevant skills and experience in general agriculture, beef cattle, dairying, rural business management, sheep production, cropping and conservation and land management.

Tocal College prides itself on offering the most current training available and so responds to industry changes as quickly as possible.

  • AHC30122 Certificate III in Agriculture (also available as traineeship to those with a supportive employer)
  • ACM30821 Certificate III in Horse Care
  • AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture (also available as traineeship to those with a supportive employer)
  • AHC50122 Diploma of Agriculture (available online)

Career options for Tocal students

Tocal College prepares graduates for a wide variety of agricultural and horse industry positions. Learn more about the careers available either immediately or with further study.

students in the cattle yard

More information

Students are required to have completed year 10 or equivalent, to meet minimum requirements in English and Maths and have a strong interest in a career in agriculture or horse husbandry. There may be advantages for some students in completing Year 12, particularly if considering going on to the AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture course or higher studies.

To gain entry into the ACM30821 Certificate III in Horse Care students must demonstrate sound groundwork and riding. This includes the ability to sustain a controlled canter and perform specific maneuvers and patterns.

Most students gain entry to the AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture course after successful completion of their Certificate III level qualification. Direct entry is possible provided prerequisite skills and knowledge are adequately demonstrated. Normally this requires, as a minimum, completion of the HSC Primary Industries and/or Agriculture AND significant farm experience. Please note: Significant experience is considered equivalent to at least one year’s full-time employment on a commercial, agricultural enterprise where the worker has responsibility for independently carrying out a wide range of tasks including machinery operation, plant production and livestock husbandry

While studying the Certificate IV in Agriculture full-time, it is possible to attempt the AHC50122 Diploma in Agriculture online with face-to-face support. Resources are available to support Diploma studies but in order to complete it within the same year, students must be disciplined and able to organise their own independent study. Successful completion of the Diploma may provide credit towards a Degree at several Australian universities.

Studying fulltime at Tocal makes use of the College's farm resources at every opportunity. As a student you will investigate case studies that find solutions to real farm problems. You will develop knowledge and skills that are relevant and will allow you to succeed in modern agriculture. This is backed up by practical work on the College and other commercial farms as well as intensive,  practical skills training. You will also experience a variety of valuable, personal development opportunities designed to develop your communication, team work and decision making and make you sought after by employers.

Depending on the course you are taking you may study in areas such as:

- ag industry safety, including WHS, First Aid, emergency response and AQF3 chemical use accreditation,
- crop and pasture production, including soils, sowing, weed & pest control, and grazing management,
- livestock husbandry, nutrition, and breeding (beef and dairy cattle, horses, sheep and poultry),
- intensive horse education and training techniques,
- precision farming & ag tech,
- farm business skills and management,
- environmentally, sustainable farming,
- machinery operation and a wide range of farm skills that make students highly employable in farm and agribusiness jobs. (See individual qualifications for specific details).

Before enrolling in first year, students will need to decide if they want to take the general Agricultural Production program or specialised Stock Horse Training and Breeding program. Then:

  1. Complete the application and medical history forms.
  2. Provide copies of your most recent school results (plus work references if having left school for over a year)
  3. Arrange an informal interview at the College. Interviews are held during Open Days. Students who are unable to attend an open day can arrange an interview at another time. In some cases it may be appropriate for you to have an interview by phone.

*Stock Horse Training and Breeding Program applicants also need to provide riding references, video,  and  a self assessment form.

  • Applications for the AHC30821 Certificate III in Horse Care (Stock horse training and breeding program) close at the end of October.
  • Applications for the AHC30122 Certificate III in Agriculture initially close at the end of October. Later applications may be considered if places are still available.

There are a large number of scholarships available to students. Visit our Financial Assistance page for more information.



Open Days

Future students and their families are invited to attend one of our Open Days – Fridays during the Winter and Spring school holidays.

We also have a recent virtual Open Day available to view here or on our YouTube page.

AHC30122 Certificate III in Agriculture

This one-year, full-time course prepares students who have completed Year 10, 11 or 12 for a variety of career paths in agriculture. It reinforces valuable practical training with the underpinning knowledge required to work independently across a wide range of farms and agribusiness.

Course details
tocal students

ACM30821 Certificate III in Horse Care

Graduates of Tocal’s stock horse program are respected nationwide for their skills and knowledge in horse handling, husbandry, breeding and training. They find jobs in a wide variety of equine related industries including as horse breakers/trainers, stationhands, vet assistants, polo grooms, and stud work for the thoroughbred, stock and performance horse industries.

Course details
students with horse

Study full-time or do a traineeship

Students who come to the CB Alexander Campus can choose to live on-campus or participate as day-students when studying full-time at Tocal. Students with a supportive employer can also study traineeships at Tocal while working in the industry, visiting Tocal at either the CB Alexander or Yanco campus for study blocks and gaining practical experience on the job.

Traineeships
students in dairy

Take it further


An advanced course, the AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture, is available as a full-time study program at Tocal’s CB Alexander campus. It provides the skills and knowledge for graduates to work as senior farm hands, farm supervisors and in agribusiness. The AHC50122 Diploma of Agriculture is also offered to full time students who can attempt it by online, self-study, but with face-to-face support.

Tocal graduates commonly receive credit at NSW universities that offer agriculture-related courses. These articulation arrangements may shorten the course time and reduce the cost of university studies. Individual universities should be contacted for specific information.

Find out more